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VIENNA, 16 December 2025 – The International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) proudly announced the winners of the 2025 Danube Art Master competition during its 28th Ordinary Meeting, held 11-12 December at the Vienna International Centre.

A remarkable discovery has been made in the Drava River: an angler in Croatia recently caught a ship sturgeon (Acipenser nudiventris), a species long believed to be extinct in the Danube River Basin. Measuring 176 centimetres and weighing 35 kilograms, the fish was safely released back into the river after being identified by local authorities. The sighting is encouraging as it marks the first confirmed record of the species in many decades.

Bucharest, Romania – Nine countries along the Danube River have joined forces to protect some of Europe’s most endangered species: the sturgeons. On 9–10 July, thirteen project partners and strategic allies – including national ministries, universities, NGOs and research bodies – gathered in Bucharest to launch “MonStur in the Danube,” a new cross-border effort to monitor and protect these ancient migratory fish.

On 7 July 2025, the Vienna International Centre’s Rotunda came to life with creativity, collaboration, and a shared appreciation for one of Europe’s most iconic rivers. Under the title “Surface & Substance: Exploring the Danube Through Science and Art,” the ICPDR launched a special week-long exhibition celebrating the power of both scientific investigation and artistic expression in protecting the Danube.

Ukraine, one of the 15 ICPDR contracting parties, has officially adopted all its nine River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs), marking a significant step towards sustainable water management in line with European Union (EU) and international standards.

The ICPDR is proud to announce its appointment as the formal host and Non-Country Member of the newly established Danube WILDisland Ramsar Regional Initiative (RRI). Approved by the 63rd meeting of the Standing Committee of the Convention on Wetlands, this initiative becomes the 22nd Ramsar Regional Initiative globally and the first river-based RRI in Europe.

VIENNA, 14th December 2023 (Press Release) – The International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) proudly announced the winners of this year's Danube Art Master competition during its 26th Ordinary Meeting in Vienna. An award ceremony was held to honour the international winners in each competition category. The announcement was made by Susanne Brandstetter, Chairperson of the ICPDR's Public Participation Expert Group.

The project involves 15 partners from 8 countries and aims to restore and conserve 34 islands from Germany to Romania. With the support of the EU Commission, the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River, and the Ramsar Convention, the LIFE WILDisland project is set to become a great example of transboundary cooperation.

The project aims to restore the Danube River Basin for ecosystems and people, an EU ‘Lighthouse Initiative’ supporting the Mission to “Restore our ocean and waters by 2030."Launched in January 2023, DANUBE4all is a 5-year EU "Lighthouse Initiative" project funded by Horizon Europe, aiming to restore freshwater ecosystems in the Danube River Basin.

VIENNA, 14th December 2022 – After almost 3 years of online activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2022 saw the return of many in person outreach activities including the Danube Art Master competition. The announcement of this year's international winners took place during the ICPDR’s 25th Ordinary Meeting in Vienna, where an award ceremony was held to crown the international Danube Art Master in each of the competing categories.